Monday, June 2, 2008

June 2-3, Crysler Park, ON

Today we motored 15 miles to Prescott, Ontario, and tied up at the Town Marina, walked into town and walked the main street of the small town and had lunch. Pleasant place but small and we decide to move on after lunch. Weather is 70+ and clear.

Prescott has a lighthouse at the Marina


Prescott's small downtown has one street about three blocks long. About 10 percent of the shops are closed. One building has some painted windows (fake) on the second floor.


We are underway after lunch and heading downriver toward Montreal.

Chemical plant still operating


Iroquios Lock


Large dam adjacent to the Iroquois Lock


We motored another 10 miles and went through the first of our St Lawrence Seaway Locks, the Iroquois Lock and only descended a foot or so. The far end of the lock opened almost as soon as the first gate had closed behind us. We did not even tie up to a lock wall; The lock tender stuck out a pole with a basket on the end to collect our toll as we slowly cruised by them. Each of these three locks now costs $25 up from $20 in years past.

Several pretty farms line the St Lawrence Seaway in this area


Our marina headquarters at Crysler Park


We share the marina with a large family of Canadian Geese and this years crop of youngsters. Is this a "gaggle"?


We ended the day at Crysler Park Marina and will tour the Upper Canada Village tomorrow. The weather is to be ok in the morning and get worse as the day goes on. Nice little spot but not much here.

Tuesday it is drizzling but we head out for the Upper Canada Village anyway. Upper Canada Village is a cross between Williamsburg, VA., and Greenfield Village, MI., and Dollywood. It is the recreation of an 1860's village using real structures which have been moved to this site and restored. It is staffed by people in costume who are operating the buildings and explaining what they do as if it were 1860. There is an operating water powered sawmill actually cutting logs as we watch, water powered mill grinding wheat into flour as we watch, printer, tinsmith, baker, shoemaker, candle maker, blacksmith, basket maker, cheese factory, school, church, working farms with animals and people and transportation that includes a stagecoach, a canal boat and wagons. Upper Canada Village turns out to be much nicer than we expected and a real interesting way to spend the day. We had planned to spend and hour or two and spent five hours and still did not see it all. We bought some bread and cheese made in the village and had some for dinner. Upper Canada Village will celebrate it's 50th year of operation this year.

Owen with some logs to be cut in the sawmill


Sawmill in operation using water power


Flour mill in operation using water power - operates with steam power when the water level is low.


Tin shop making cups and lots of other stuff


Linda in front of an early log cabin


Linda looks in on the pigs enjoying their rest in the mud.


Planting flowers in costume


Stagecoach


Horse and handler on a towpath pulling a canal boat


Canal boat